Practical Machinist - Largest Manufacturing Technology Forum on the Web - Manufacturing in America and Europehttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/
Discuss global manufacturing and its effectsenSun, 15 Sep 2019 12:32:05 GMTvBulletin60https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/images/metro/blue/misc/rss.pngPractical Machinist - Largest Manufacturing Technology Forum on the Web - Manufacturing in America and Europehttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/
Alternative CNC Manufacturershttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/alternative-cnc-manufacturers-368164-new/
Sat, 14 Sep 2019 23:45:28 GMTCame across 3D Hubs in a Google search recently. Uploaded a part to their site and a batch of 45-off is much cheaper (about 1/2 the price) than our...Came across 3D Hubs in a Google search recently. Uploaded a part to their site and a batch of 45-off is much cheaper (about 1/2 the price) than our current supplier. Has anyone used them and if so what have been your experiences?
]]>Manufacturing in America and EuropePM2.5https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/alternative-cnc-manufacturers-368164/Better Metalhttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/better-metal-367788-new/
Mon, 02 Sep 2019 16:16:32 GMTYouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pYNzxorJs0)YouTube
]]>Manufacturing in America and EuropeJHOLLAND1https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/better-metal-367788/End of cheap shipping from China?https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/end-cheap-shipping-china-367613-new/
Tue, 27 Aug 2019 17:05:27 GMTI just saw this article It&#39;s Official, No More Cheap Shipping For Chinese Sellers - Selling on Amazon - Amazon Seller Forums
]]>Manufacturing in America and Europeconverterkinghttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/end-cheap-shipping-china-367613/Manufacturing in a Gig Economyhttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/manufacturing-gig-economy-367582-new/
Mon, 26 Aug 2019 19:33:34 GMTOne thing I've thought about is manufacturing going back to a piece rate system like it was centuries ago where people produced parts at home or at a facility and employees are only paid by the piece. What if people machined parts in hackerspaces/makerspaces or built furniture pieces like on Etsy and sold online? How feasible would it be for them to compete with larger manufacturers?

Some basic math I did was on building a table for furniture.

I can get the lumber I need to make a small end table from yellow pine for about $5. Let's assume it takes me 20 minutes to cut all the pieces for one table, as well as use the planer to smooth/even them out. Let's also assume I spend 20 minutes gluing the top together. And then let's say it takes me another 20 minutes to do final assembly using screws for legs/supports. I've maybe used 6 or 7 bucks in materials, at most. And it's taken me an hour to build this end table. Look at what end tables sell for - lowest I see is around 60 bucks, many times 100 or more. These comparable sales on Google Shopping and Etsy I'm looking at aren't even painted. Wal-Mart had a small table like this made of fiberboard that was not assembled for 40 dollars. With the proper setup, I believe this run time could be reduced more, maybe to half an hour or even less. I'm using conservative numbers to make the point.

So I have 1 hour of labor per table in production time + let's just say 8 bucks in materials. Now assume I'm selling 20 at a time to a retailer or distributor, and I'm selling them for 40 dollars.

Of course there's distribution/shipping - I'm not sure exactly what the convention is for retailers to get furniture, i.e. whether they pick-up or I have to handle freight. Even then, surely there's a way around this. People could make products for specific markets - like making things in a city specifically for distribution within that city and nearby areas.

The big issue I see is that the production capacity would be small, but if you spread this out over a large number of people doing this, that would get larger.

What I'm basically asking about is an Uber of manufacturing.
]]>Manufacturing in America and Europenyc123https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/manufacturing-gig-economy-367582/Deindustrializationhttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/deindustrialization-367581-new/
Mon, 26 Aug 2019 19:25:18 GMTAnyone have thoughts on this?
Is US Manufacturing Losing Its Toolbox? | IndustryWeek...Anyone have thoughts on this?

It's an analysis of employment and number of businesses in specific manufacturing segments from 2002 to 2018 using NAICS data.

Machine shops: number of businesses down 20% and employment down 11%

Industrial mold shops: number of businesses down 43% and employment down 12%

Semiconductors: number of businesses down 12% and employment down 28%

The author makes the case that we can't have strong manufacturing without the foundational industry to support it.

I'm interested to hear peoples' take on this. There's a lot of talk about trade, automation, and consolidation of industry through mergers/acquisitions, but how much has each of these things contributed respectively to these declines?
]]>Manufacturing in America and Europenyc123https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/deindustrialization-367581/Fools Gamehttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/fools-game-367569-new/
Mon, 26 Aug 2019 05:05:09 GMTAnthony Scaramucci has now announced his opposition to Trump.
Hollywoood and politics, President Trump, can win at this game, whether we like it...Anthony Scaramucci has now announced his opposition to Trump.

Hollywoood and politics, President Trump, can win at this game, whether we like it or not.
]]>Manufacturing in America and Europeotrlthttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/fools-game-367569/Blue collar, white collar.. my observations in the US and what about other cultures?https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/blue-collar-white-collar-my-observations-us-what-about-other-cultures-367551-new/
Sun, 25 Aug 2019 15:18:59 GMTSo when we decided to get married almost 40 years ago, her CPA pop asked me how I was going to support her daughter since I was nothing but an...So when we decided to get married almost 40 years ago, her CPA pop asked me how I was going to support her daughter since I was nothing but an aircraft mechanic with no college... He died in debt, and I'm doing just fine.

Having worked in aircraft instruments, as an A&P, and then starting my own small business as a design engineer / prototype machinist, I guess I have worn both collars.

In engineering meetings I have seen managers and engineers treat machinists as dumb metal cutters. Many times I had to inform them that machinist are not as dumb as they may think and encouraged engineers to consult with machinist when designing things. I do.

I suppose the wisdom is that if you work with your hands you are blue and if you work with your head you are white? Or if you get dirty you are blue and not dirty white? ...whether one washes hands before or after the restroom? I knew an oral surgeon once. I guess he was white collar but he worked in peoples mouths all day. I would prefer an old road diesel truck to someone's mouth.

I sure wish management and engineers would respect machinist more.

A friend, who is an 737 captain was once telling me that I was blue collar. So I presented some examples and he said, chef = blue, accountant = white, machinist = blue, scientist = white, department manager = white, bus driver and he said blue. Then I let him have it. I asked... Airline Pilot...?

So my question is, in other countries do machinist and mechanics have a similar lack of respect that I have noticed in the US?
]]>Manufacturing in America and Europelaminar-flowhttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/blue-collar-white-collar-my-observations-us-what-about-other-cultures-367551/https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/new-electric-motor-design-evs-367537-new/
Sat, 24 Aug 2019 20:37:17 GMTI came across this during a search for something else on the net. It claims to be the best innovation in electric motors in 100 years.
Glad to see...I came across this during a search for something else on the net. It claims to be the best innovation in electric motors in 100 years.
Glad to see it is developed domestically (Texas).

News - Linear Labs
]]>Manufacturing in America and EuropeRob F.https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/new-electric-motor-design-evs-367537/Shops working only in the EU? Why would this be?https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/shops-working-only-eu-why-would-367436-new/
Wed, 21 Aug 2019 17:42:38 GMTA friend sent me this link which says this small shop only works inside of the EU. What would be the reason for this?
Apparently there is nothing...A friend sent me this link which says this small shop only works inside of the EU. What would be the reason for this?

Apparently there is nothing preventing me from selling to someone in the EU.

Customer Work – Stefan Gotteswinter
]]>Manufacturing in America and Europelaminar-flowhttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/shops-working-only-eu-why-would-367436/U.S. Steel idles blast furnaces, cites lower demand and priceshttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/u-s-steel-idles-blast-furnaces-cites-lower-demand-prices-367423-new/
Wed, 21 Aug 2019 13:09:20 GMTThey say demand and prices are down. Hot rolled is mentioned. Are you seeing lower steel prices? Looks like the layoffs have increased since the June...They say demand and prices are down. Hot rolled is mentioned. Are you seeing lower steel prices? Looks like the layoffs have increased since the June announcement.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - United States Steel Corp will temporarily lay off hundreds of workers at its Great Lakes facility in Michigan in coming weeks, according to a filing the steelmaker made with the State of Michigan.

In a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed on Aug. 5, the Pittsburgh-based company said it expects to let go fewer than 200 workers following its decision to halt production at the Michigan facility.

In mid-June, the company said it would idle two blast furnaces at its Great lakes and Gary Works plants, citing lower steel prices and softening demand.

U.S. Steel said the lay-offs at the Michigan plant could last beyond six months. They will impact nearly every area of the facility, from blast furnace to finishing operations, a company spokeswoman told Reuters.

The lay-offs call into question claims President Donald Trump has made about the resurgence of the domestic steel industry. Last week in Pennsylvania, Trump said his 25% tariff on foreign imports has turned a "dead" business into a "thriving" enterprise.

Domestic steel prices did rise in the immediate aftermath of Trump's tariffs. But they have fallen dramatically amid improved supplies and weakening demand from the auto and farm machinery sectors.

Prices of hot-rolled coil are down nearly 37% from their 2018 peak.

U.S. Steel's stock price has plunged 73% since March 1, 2018, when Trump announced his decision to crack down on foreign imports.

An official at the United Steelworkers union, which represents U.S. Steel workers, said lay-offs were also planned for the Gary Works facility in Indiana. U.S. Steel's spokeswoman, however, said the company "currently doesn't expect any employment level changes" at the Indiana plant.

The city of Gary and the state of Indiana have offered U.S. Steel a $47 million tax break package to help it invest $750 million in modernizing Gary Works, its largest North American plant.

YouTube
]]>Manufacturing in America and EuropeJHOLLAND1https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/construction-atommash-367379/Greenland - for sale? LOLhttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/manufacturing-in-america-and-europe/greenland-sale-lol-367302-new/
Sat, 17 Aug 2019 07:33:01 GMTGreenland seems to be in the news at the moment. Maybe useful getting a few facts in place.
Denmark - Wikipedia...Greenland seems to be in the news at the moment. Maybe useful getting a few facts in place.